The Irish Motor Industry is Recruiting Apprentices Across Ireland

Are you passionate about cars, enjoy problem-solving, and eager to learn about new technologies? 

A hands-on career in the motor industry might be for you!

Apprenticeships Available:

The Motor Industry offers a range of apprenticeships, including:

• Motor Mechanics
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
• Vehicle Body Repairs
• Agricultural Mechanics
• Construction Plant Fitting

How to Get Started

To undertake an apprenticeship, candidates must secure a suitable employer for the duration of the four-year program. Once employed, they can register with SOLAS, which oversees the training program and awards the National Craft Certificate.

How to Apply

SIMI Member companies offer apprenticeships in counties across Ireland. 

To apply:

1. Select the apprenticeship category and location that suits you.
2. Send your CV directly to the employer.

Click Here for current apprenticeship opportunities.

A 4 four-year apprenticeship, where you will become a fully qualified motor mechanic, with a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Motor Mechanics. A motor mechanic may choose to work in a dealership, repair shop or test centres like the NCT.  

This is a four-year apprenticeship, where you will become a fully qualified vehicle body repairer, with a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Vehicle Body Repairs. 

Vehicle body repairer may work in garages with vehicle repair facilities and in ‘specialised’ repair shops.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) is committed to fostering career development through innovative training programs. Working closely with SOLAS, SIMI has developed occupational profiles and training plans to create clear career paths, enabling apprentices to progress to higher qualifications while advancing in their roles.

Becoming an Apprentice

The Irish Motor Industry is proud of its reputation for high-quality apprenticeship training, recognised nationally and internationally. 

An Irish Motor Industry Apprenticeship is held in high esteem worldwide, thanks to the exceptional performance of Irish apprentices in International Skills Competitions.

Notably, Irish technicians have achieved remarkable success in the WorldSkills Olympics, earning a Gold Medal in Automobile Technology and a Bronze Medal in subsequent competitions. 

Competing against countries like the U.S., Germany, Japan, and Korea, this success highlights the prestige of an Irish qualification.

How to Apply for a Motor Apprenticeship

To begin your journey as a motor apprentice:

• Confirm that you meet the entry requirements for your chosen apprenticeship.
• Once approved, explore apprenticeship opportunities in your area via the Current Vacancies section.
• Secure an employer willing to support you throughout the apprenticeship.
• Your employer will register you with SOLAS, who will provide details on training schedules and the expected completion date for your National Craft Certificate.

Find an Employer
Secure an employer willing to support you throughout the apprenticeship.

Contact Your Local ETB or SOLAS Training Centre

Confirm that you meet the entry requirements for your chosen apprenticeship.

Once approved, explore apprenticeship opportunities in your area via the Current Vacancies Section.

Register with SOLAS

Your employer will register you with SOLAS, who will provide details on training schedules and the expected completion date for your National Craft Certificate.

Learn More about the Apprenticeships Available

• The Craft of Motor Mechanics
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanic
• Vehicle Body Repairs
• Agricultural Mechanic
• Construction Plant Fitting 
• Sales

Educational Requirements

Apprentices must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have at least 5 achieves  in the Junior Certificate or equivalent.

If you do not meet these requirements, you may still qualify if:

• You complete an approved preparatory training course and assessment interview (contact your local ETB for details).
• You are over 18 years old with at least 3 years of relevant work experience and pass an assessment interview.

Additional Requirements

• Apprentices must be employed by a SOLAS-approved employer who will register them within two weeks of recruitment.
• Apprentices in specific automotive categories must pass the Ishihara Colour Vision Test (24 Plate Edition).

Apprenticeship Structure

An apprenticeship lasts at least 4 years and alternates between:

• On-the-job training: Four phases with your employer.
• Off-the-job training: Three phases at an approved training centre.

Upon completion, you will earn a Level 6 QQI National Craft Certificate, recognized both nationally and internationally.

How to write a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a critical document in portraying an image that you wish to present to a potential employer, as this will be their first impression of you. Your CV is a selling document; it sells your qualifications, skills and achievements to a potential 'employer', informs them of any extra-curricular activities, your employment history, and your hobbies/interests while also projecting your personality.

In order for your CV to achieve all of these things, you should ensure that you present your CV in a manner that is grammatical correct, clear, concise, and truthful i.e. your claims match your work and educational history etc. CVs are presented in a variety of different formats, however, the following basic information should be contained in a CV.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) Headings:
Personal details:

• Name
• Address,
• Contact telephone number (landline and/or mobile)
• Email address
• Date of birth (optional).

Career Objective or Opening statement (optional) You can state what you are aiming for at this stage and what skills you have to offer in relation to your objective. This is useful when confirming your interest in a particular job or employment sector.

Education and Qualifications

• Recent qualifications appear first.
• Give the full title of your degree, diploma or certificates awards and the time frame of completion.
• If you studied outside of Ireland, indicate qualification equivalence if possible.
• Junior Certificate results or Leaving Certificate results (whichever is most recent).

Employment history

• Start with your most recent job.
• Employers are interested in any work experience whether immediately relevant or not.
• Include any vocation/voluntary work experience that you have.
• Emphasise what you have learned and how you have made a difference to your employer.
• Emphasise the skills gained in each job.

Interests and activities
Mention any positions of responsibility that you have held in societies/clubs in any outside organisations. Emphasise any skills that you have gained, e.g. teamwork, leadership, organisational etc.

Achievements
An achievement is any activity you have completed successfully.

Referees
Get permission before you use someone as a referee and include their name, job title, address, email and telephone number.

How long should a CV be?
If possible, try to keep your CV short and concise. Include summaries of your employment and education, rather than lots of details. Use formal and well-written language, writing simply and clearly.

Proof Read Your CV
Double-check your CV for typos and grammatical errors. Ask someone else to review it for you in case you have overlooked any errors (also use spell check). Look at the format of your CV and ensure it is easy on the eye to read. Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your information onto the page. Allow for some room between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic font styles; use simple fonts with a professional look.

Emailing CVs – Useful Tip
When sending an Employer an attachment, resist the temptation to simply save your CV as 'CV.doc' - imagine being the person at the other end who has to rename CVs before saving them!

Other Resources

There are numerous books and website that contain information on how to write curriculum vitae (CV). One example: Gradireland.com - Ireland's graduate website has a detailed section on applications.
 

A New Level 6 Sales Apprenticeship

A consortium of industry leaders in the sales sector, in collaboration with Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim Education and Training Board, is proud to announce that the new Level 6 Sales Apprenticeship has been recommended for validation by QQI.

QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) is an agency of the Department of Education and Skills, responsible for ensuring quality assurance in education and training. Programmes validated by QQI are:

• Quality assured
• Nationally and internationally recognised
• Pathways to further and higher education
• Valued by employers

About the Programme

This two-year programme equips apprentices with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to become sales specialists. Upon successful completion, graduates will hold a nationally and internationally recognised qualification, opening doors to exciting career opportunities in the sales industry.

For further information relating to this new apprenticeship, please email apprenticeship@msletb.ie  

To find out further information about apprenticeships 

 SOLAS or www.apprenticeship.ie